Family Reunion, Part 2

We had a photographer come and take some pictures at the "reunion". 

She did an AWESOME job.... here are a few of my favorites:

If you're in the Salt Lake Area, and are intrested, let me know, and I will give you her number (She totally rocks, and has really really good prices!).

Baby Bird

We spent Father's Day in Manti... Gary and Marie have a huge yard, and the kids LOVE to play in it.

That day, a little baby bird was hopping around at the base of one of the trees, and Gracie (my niece) and Ryan stumbled across it.

Not to worry, the bird hopped away, and even made it to the top of the fence. 

(Ryan pointing at his little friend and saying "Biiiiiirrrr, Biiiirrrrrr!")

Evan

Man, I love this kid!

Family Reunion, Part 1

Okay, we call it a reunion, but it's not one of those 100 people from all branches of the family tree reunions. It's my parents, my siblings (spouses and kids if they have'um), and this year... my Aunt and Uncle!

The guest list also included not only my "related by blood" siblings, but my sister who is not really my sister. Confused??? lol. She's my half brother's half sister. We were pen pals when were young. We are FB friends... but have never actually MET. Well, she flew out from Cali with her husband and two children, and they all fit PERFECT!

We rented a beautiful house here in Salt Lake which was stunning. Only complaints would be the hottubs (yes, plural) were not clean and the kitchen could have been better stocked when it came to cooking utensils and pots and pans. Other than that, it was awesome! And HUGE! Mom kept complaining about getting lost (there were multiple stairways and several of the rooms had multiple doors).
We played a lot of games, had several "outings" and just enjoyed each other the entire weekend.

I was REALLY sad to see it end. There are three of us kids that live here in the valley, but I don't get to see my other siblings every often. AND meeting Heather and her family was just the icing on the cake.

Here are a few pictures from the weekend. (Johanna and Heather and Dad, you guys are going to have to share your pictures because I didn't take very many thanks to Ryan!)


First.... The Zoo. 

Ryan just about FREAKED OUT when he saw the animals!  He's watching some monkeys swing here.

And he LOVES birds.... and wanted to climb in with the penquins.

Me and Ryan with the giraffes.

Ryan and Uncle Shawn inside the giraffe house... when a giraffe walked in, Ryan's mouth DROPPED!

Car ride home from the zoo....

LOTS and LOTS of games.... Donny and Donovan and Dad during the poker game.

While the boys played poker, the girls played Apples to Apples.

Vonnie, Johanna and Ash.

Sara, Carrie and Nancy (Mom)

Heather and Mary

Sara and Evan playing Ping Pong... on the pool table?

Ryan (15 months) and Ash (11 months)

Alyssa writing in the journal.

Evan and Donovan

Ash, Evan and Ryan

Everyone said that they were triplets... except Ryan ate the third one.  Mean people.

Ryan RUNNING. 

Mary, Wade, Evan and James

Late night game of Malarky....

And the babies again....

Training Dad

Quiet House

Evan went to Montana to spend a couple of weeks with my parents.    He's been doing this every summer since he was, ummmmm... 2??

It always amazes me how much LESS there is to do when he's not here.  Even with Ryan running around and demanding my attention, there is just so much less to do!

I miss him, but I'm enjoying nap time being about ME.

I talked to him on the phone last night, and I just can't believe how much OLDER he sounds.   He carries on conversations this year.... rather than being completely distracted by whatever is going on around him.  He tells me things like, "I went cruising with Grandpa and James."  Then explains what cruising is, because obviously as a girl and a mom I can't possibly know what cruising is.

I told Eva I cleaned his room while he was gone, and the first thing he asked me (very hesitantly), "Mom, did you throw away any of my things?"  Oh, he knows me too well!  I always use his weeks away as a time to dejunk his room.  I guess we'll see if he notices anything missing.  (Seriously, I took 3 trash bags worth of stuff out.  He's going to grow up to be on that show "Buried Alive".)